Interesting Facts about the Yellow-Bellied Marmot

Yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) are medium sized rodents found in southwest Canada and the western United States. Yellow-bellied marmots spend most of their time in their burrow, and more than half of their life hibernating.

Did you know?

The yellow-bellied marmot has coarse hair that looks brown, because it is lighter at the tips and becomes darker at the base. They have yellow spots on their neck and their belly is yellow, resulting in their name.

Different sub-species of yellow-bellied marmots have different colored feet, ranging between tan, hazel, or dark brown.

Males are longer and heavier than females. They can grow to be about eight inches long and can weigh up to ten pounds.

It has the nickname “whistle pig,” due to the sound it makes when warning other marmots of predators.

The yellow-bellied marmot’s main predators are eagles, wolves, foxes and coyotes. They often build their burrows under rocks because it will help hide them from predators.

Males dig the burrows, and often take three to four female mates who will live in their burrows with them.

Lesson plan note: Not a lot is known about how yellow-bellied marmots interact and raise their young. Discuss why it is so difficult to observe such interactions.